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Mayor Lee P. Brown's Welcome Address
Houston Dragon Boat Festival 2001
Saturday, Oct. 6, 2001

"Thank you.  I'm pleased to welcome everyone to Houston's first annual Dragon Boat Festival.  I hope all of you enjoy yourselves this afternoon with this dynamic display of Asian culture. Houston is a great city, and one of the reasons is our diversity. Houston is cosmopolitan in the very best sense: dozens of languages are spoken here, more than 50 religions are practiced and, to my own delight, food from, at last count, 35 different countries can be found in the Houston restaurant scene.  Our many communities are proud of their individual heritage.  This can be seen in festivals like this one, held nearly every weekend to celebrate those cultures and share them with Houstonians and visitors alike. 

The purpose of the Houston Dragon Boat Festival 2001 is to share dragon boat racing with the greater Houston community.  Dragon boat racing began in China, around 277 B.C.  Teams traditionally consist of 22 people - 20 paddlers, one steersman, and one drummer who race down a 500-meter waterway. Currently, hundreds of competitions are held annually, and dragon boat racing has grown increasingly popular in the United States.  In fact, Philadelphia recently became the first U.S. city to host the world dragon boat championships.  Approximately 100 teams participated from all around the world, bringing an estimated economic impact to Philadelphia of $70 million.  China has applied for dragon boat racing to be a demonstration sport in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.  Perhaps it will even be a medal sport in 2012 when the Olympics come to Houston, as we all hope they will.

In addition to helping us appreciate Asian culture, today's Dragon Boat Festival also helps us showcase the remarkable renovations happening along our own Buffalo Bayou.  There are great things in the works in Houston - I hope all of you have a chance to appreciate all that is being done to improve our city.  And, as if the event itself weren't inducement enough to get us out on this fine Houston afternoon, proceeds from today's event will go towards the civic activities supported by the Houston Chinese American Lions Club, with a portion to benefit the Buffalo Bayou Partnership.  The Lions Clubs have done so much for so many over the years – for disabled children, for the vision impaired and for students in need of financial help.  Like me, you all are dedicated to an enhanced quality of life for all of our citizens, particularly our youngest citizens. 

Of course, the contributions made to our city by the Chinese community are too numerous to even begin acknowledging.  The just-released census numbers show that the Asian population has increased about 4 percent in the Houston metropolitan area.  The total workforce in Houston is 4 percent Asian, and this is a very hardworking force.  I also want to let you know about Asian Americans in your city government.  Nearly one-third of the current Asian-American work force has "come aboard" since I became mayor.  Nearly 30 percent of that Asian work force has been promoted since I became mayor, and more than one-third have received pay equity or salary adjustment increases.  I am pleased with that record.  I am also very proud of the senior appointments of Asians I have made in the City's police, public works and municipal courts.  The City has numerous boards and commissions, and 105 Asian Americans serve on those bodies.  I deeply appreciate their contributions of time and leadership as they work to make our great city even better.

As you know, one of my administrative priorities is economic development and increased international trade for our city.  Two years ago, I led a very successful Asian trade mission to China, Japan and Taiwan.  In September last year we hosted the High-Tech Houston/Asia Summit, which fostered academic and commercial partnerships between senior Houston executives and their Asian counterparts.  That's an appropriate place to begin to talk about how things are in our great City.  I am very proud to be Houston's first Mayor of the New Millennium.  Our City has been very successful, and we have some real challenges as we continue our success. Thank you for listening.  Honestly, I could talk about Houston all afternoon.  I want to thank the Chinese community for your dedication to this great community in which we live.  You have served as a model, and continue to do so.  Have a great time today."

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